Electrical accumulator.



No.'865, 503. HPATENTED SEPT. 1-0, 1907.

J. KNOBLOGH. ELEGTRIOAL ACGUMULATOR.

APPLICATION TILED D120. 26. 1906.

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ATTORNEY No. 865,503. PATENTED SEPT. 10, 1907.

J. KNOBLOOH. ELECTRICAL AGGUMULATOR.

APPLICATION IIL ED D30. 26. 1906.

' 2 SHEETBSHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES JOHN KNOBLOOH, F NEw'YoRK, N.,Y.

ELECTRICAL AGCUMULA'POR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1907.

Application filled l'leoembsr 26, 1906. Serial No. 8 1M100.

that class, wherein a plurality of elements constituting respectivelythe anode and cathode, which elements are built up of a plurality. ofunits, are electrically connected with a suitable non-corrosiveconducting frame or support. Relative to the types of electricalaccumu-' lators embraced by this class, my invention has particularreference to the manner in which the active .and inactive material iselectrically connected with the support and to a means for permitting,within certain limits, freedom of expansion of the said material'duringI electrolysis and a means for insulating the units and the support ofthe elements with respect to each other.

The object of my invention is to provide a more durable and a morereliable element than those in vogue and previous to my invention, in sofar as I am at present aware, and the features characteristic of myinvention, whereby I am enabled to attain this object, lie in theconstruction of the element itself, the units containing the activematerial of which the element is composed and the manner of insulatingthe units and retaining the active material in contact with its supportduring expansion due to electrolysis and electro chemical action. 7

' In considering the difficulties attending the maintenance of theactive and inactive material in accumulators of the class to which myinvention relates, as

well as those encountered in the endeavor to secure 35 adequate contactbetweerrthe material and the support and'sufiicient insulation toobviate local action;.my

attention was directed to a means of constructing the units, whereby thematerial, which is carried bythe support, may be retained-in contacttherewith, and in thus considering the construction of the units, myinvention is directed.

In the main,-my invention provides a unit comprising a suitable supportof conducting material, having a somewhat extensive surface to which isapplied the material; the units of the anode being coated with theactive material, and the units of the cathodebeing coated with theinactive material, and a perforated wrapper composed of an insulatingmaterial, which is insoluble in the electrolyte, formed about the whole,in a manner so as to inclose the material, and maintain it in positionon the support.

My invention also consists in the provision of a suitable supporting.insulating material for the element,

as a whole, and the manner in which I reduce my invention to practice,'is illustrated in the drawings hereto attached, which forms part ofthis specification, and

g is described in the detailed description relative thereto,

and the distinctive features of novelty are finally pointed out in theclaims, concluding the specification. With reference to thedrawingsz-Figure 1, is an enlarged detailed isometrical projectionalview of a portion of the support oi one of my improved units,illustrating the configuration rof the surface to" which the material isapplied. Fig. 2, is. an enlarged detailed transverse sectional view ofone of my improved units, illustrating the disposition of the material,as applied to the support and the manner of retaining the activematerial by a wrapper of insulating material. Fig. 3, is anenlargeddetailed view of one of my improved wrappers. Fig. 4, .is afragmentary .top plan view of the support for the unit, and an enlargedview of a section of the. conducting portion, to which the unit is.electrically connected Fig. 5, is a transverse crosssectional view ofaportion of the frame, taken on the line of Fig. 6, illustrating themanner in which the frame is incased by an insulating material. Fig. 6,is an isometrical projectional view of one of my improved elements,illustrating the units somewhat spaced with relation to each other andthe manner by which they are supported, and Fig. 7, is a similar view tothat of Fig. 6, illustrating the frame-work of the elements forming theanode and cathode of my improved accumulator, disposed in a cell.

In the several figures, similar characters of reference are employed todesignate the same parts throughout, wherein: i s

A, 1A, 2A and 3A designate respectively, the body, lateral heads and theconnecting spindle of one of the sections of aunit support, inaccordance with my invention; these sections I prefento form in a bar oflead, bycasting the molten material into a suitable mold in a well-knownmanner; the body portion A of each section, which has the form of a webis preferably disposed throughout the unit, in a manner so as to lie inthe same plane, and is positioned as in Fig. 1, vertically. i

The heads 1A, 2A of each section are preferably formed hexagonally, oreacn of the hexagon sides are provided with further configuration in amanner as illustrated in Figs. -l and 2, whereby, when the unit is cast'in a mold, and the webAlies in a plane, in which the mold is parted,the two longitudinal halves thereof diametrically opposite the-web maybereadily removed. It will be this observed 'that, upon the inspection ofFig. 2, considerable suriace is presented to contact with the activematerial, while the web A provides to a marked extent, the rigidity ofthe structure against vertical displacement.

in a well-known manner with some suitable solvent, such as glycerin,saccharin or glucose, molasses or the like, in the form of a paste 4A,and is applied in a suitable mold, or by merely pasting it to thesections of the unit, or is disposed in the manner illustrated in Fig.2, soas to'be interposed between the heads lA, 2A and betweentheprojection of the said heads, in a manner so as to form a continuouscoating over the sur- I I face 'of the unit support as well as beingdeposited between the interstices, or pockets thus presented by theheads 1A, 2A and the web A.. The units thus constructed and pasted, areenveloped by a suitable insulating wrapper provided with perforations as1B, 1 These per-fora one may be irregularly arranged, or maybesubstitutedby a suitable pervious material applied to the finished unitFig.2, in lieu of the wrapper B; for this wrapper, I preferto employthin sheets of perforatedhard rubber, as is usually employed for batteryseparators, and wrap the same about each unit, in. the manner depictedin Fig. 2, whereby imper- 'vious portions 23 will be diametricallyoppositely sit-f uated and perpendicular to the vertical position ofthe.web A. The purpose of the impervious portion-2B of the envelop orwrapper B, is to guard against the so-- called bridging tendency. of thematerial of the juxtaposed elements, and the deleterious results, due tolocal action. v V

. In, Fig. 6 ,..I have illustrated the disposition of four of myimproved units assembled in the formation of an eleinentpthese'are inthe illustration'some'what exaggerated in the: spacing, at the instanceof clear-f ness. The manner of assembling thennit's, as illustrated inFig: 6,;may be biestunderstood by reference to the detailed Fig.4,wherein it will be observed that the spindle 3Ai-is introduced to asocltet inthe frame.

- The connectionb'etween the spindle 3A and the-frame 5A be effected inthe well-known manner of burning the material together or by casting theframe 5A' into a suitable mold in which the units and the insu-- .latingmaterial therefor are assembled, after-said' units. have been pasted,inwhich event care must be taken to exclude the air from the mold, inorder to prevent the burning of the insulating material, when the same 7."i's of a combustible nature.

In order to'space the lateral and oppositely situated members of theframe, the sides 6A and 7A are rigidly maintainedin position by paralleltransverse braces of "insulating material 8A, 9'A respectively situatedat opposite extremities of the frame, These may be integrally orotherwise formed with the sides 6A and 7A to maintain the rigidity ofthe frame and resist the buckling: tendencythc'reof, due to theexpansion and contraction of theunits, resulting from the'activitythereof during electrolytic action.

In orderto maintain the wrappers B intheir position about the units,which they envelop and at the same time support the intermediateportions thereof, I provide the strips of insulating material 313 whichare passed over and under the series of units, in the manner of weaving,as illustrated in Fig. 6, thus bracing the entire structure' againstvertical and lateral displacement. The binding strips 3'B- I prefer toform of suitable sheets ofthin hard rubber or narrow I xshreds thereofand when in the form of strips, I prefer to perforate them as illustrateda't 1B Fig. 3 and also Fig. 6, whereby ample circulation of theelectrolyte may be permitted-through the envelop or wrapper B. V

The metallic framework 5A which is electrically connected with the-unitsin the manner aforesaid, I i prefer to construct of lead or someconducting material, which is inactive in the electrolyte andgraduate'jthe cross-section of "thesame as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7whereby the electrical resistance of the same will vary as the number ofelements toward the pole of the frame. e

I am aware-that prior to my invention, electrical accumulators have beenconstructed, whereby the elements thereof were built up of a number ofunits and I am also aware that these have been arranged. ,inthe form oftransverse substantially parallel bars, a-n'dil therefore do not claimsuch constructions as thoroughly within the scope, of my invention, thespirit'oi the invention beirig rather confined to the particularconstruction of the unit and plurality there- 'of of which the elementisbuilt up and in the manner of supporting both the units and the elementas a whole in overcoming the diflicultyof distortion due to electrolyticaction, as well as to. the construction which provides for themaintenance of contact between the paste and the supporting structureand Having fully described my invention, I ,claim as new and desire t6secure by Letters Patent of the U. S.

1. In anlelectrica'l accumulator having an element com prising-.21plurality of units, said units consisting of a conducting support,having consecutive compartments, and a suitable electrolytically, activepaste carrledithereby, a

muteriahcmbracing and securing the units;

2. In an electrical accumulator, provided with elements,

' built up of units, units formed .of a conducting support,

provided with a plurality of interstices, a transverse brace,

adapted 'to resist the bending of the unit; said',.unit

adapted to contain a quantity of divided conducting m=1- terial and tobeexposed to electrolytic a'ction, an lnsulat-- ing wrapping '0! pervlousmaterial surrounding the unit and means for securing the same in contacttherewith.

'In an electrical accumulatonwherein the anode and cathode elements arebuilt up of a plurality of units, the combination with an element ofpervious insulating-support secured to and surrounding theuuits andembracing the structural portion of the element, together with lateralbraces of insulating material to support the structure;

.4. In an electrical accumulator provided with'anode and cathodeelements, built up of units,' a conducting support, constitutingtheframe-work, electrically uniting the unltsaud having avariablecross-secti0n, together with an envelop of insulating material, havingbervious and impervious portions, the former surrounding the units andsecured tlnereto and the latter embracing the framework,

5. In an electrical,accumulator, provided with anode and cathodeelements, built up of units, a conducting support constitutingthe frameworkelectrically uniting the units and having a variable ci'osssect-i0n,together with an envelop-of insulating material, having pervdous andimpervious portions, the former surrounding the units vand securedthereto and the latter embracing the frame- JOHN Kuosnocu.

Witnesses: .WM. J. HAMMOND,

W. Wrssnn.

